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This article queries the sociopolitical implications of a wave of popular interest in the legacy of the Mamluk dynasty (1250–1517) in post-2013 Egypt. Although the era’s sultans have traditionally been derided in mainstream culture as tyrannical ‘foreign’ leaders, they have recently been reframed as the last nationalist rulers before the Ottoman invasion. This revised characterization underpins the newfound fascination with their socio-political legacy, which has manifested in various cultural productions, including a new television series, Mamalik al-Nar (Kingdoms of Fire). In this article, we analyze the show’s content, its popularity in Egypt, the debates it has generated on social media and the regional production and distribution networks in which it is embedded. Through this analysis, we argue that the series—and the Mamluk ‘revivalism’ to which it is connected—is part of an unresolved debate about what it means to be Egyptian today.

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This entry traces the history and development of Cairo, the capital of Egypt, from its founding in the seventh centuryceto its emergence as a global megacity in the twenty‐first century. Located 100 miles south of the Mediterranean coast and comprised of the governorates of Giza, Cairo, and Qalyubia, the city is estimated to have a population of 20–22 million. It has long been considered the cultural and political heart of the Middle East – in part owing to its rich history as a center of trade and commerce, religious practice, cultural development, and political negotiation. In the contemporary context, Cairo faces myriad infrastructural challenges, from waste management to vehicular congestion to public housing. Nevertheless, the city continues to thrive according to its own logic as a vibrant, functioning metropolis.